Scandinavian Area Studies

The Scandinavian Area Studies Program at PLU uses multiple disciplinary approaches to study the peoples, cultures and societies of Scandinavia, providing students with a broad-based and rigorous liberal arts education that equips them with critical intellectual tools and prepares them for constructive engagement with the world. The major provides a rigorous liberal arts education, enabling students to develop a detailed understanding of Scandinavia while equipping them with critical intellectual tools and practices that prepare them for constructive engagement with the world. Building on required courses in language, culture and literature, students can choose from among a broad range of courses in history, political science, music, film, and other fields, resulting in the sort of trans-cultural and interdisciplinary fluency and flexibility required for work, study, and life beyond college.

Majors in Scandinavian Area Studies are strongly encouraged to study away in the Nordic region for a semester, year or J-Term is encouraged, and PLU maintains a gateway program in Norway with study sites at the university colleges of Telemark and Hedmark that offer ideal opportunities for this, while also providing our own J-Term study away course in Norway and Iceland every second year.

Students majoring in Scandinavian Area Studies are expected to complete or demonstrate the equivalent of:

Students will choose from an approved list of courses from the Scandinavian Area Studies Program and participating departments based on personal interests and goals, and in consultation with their advisor and the program chair. Selected J-Term, summer and experimental courses, as well as an internship, may be included in the major with the program chair’s approval.

No more than 8 semester hours may be used to meet both the Scandinavian Area Studies major and general education elements or requirements for a second major or minor. Such cross-application of courses must be approved by the Scandinavian Area Studies chair.

Many of the non-SCAN courses listed below offer an opportunity to view Scandinavia in comparison with other areas of the world. They are regular departmental offerings in which students pursuing a Scandinavian Area Studies major focus their reading and work assignments to a significant extent on the Nordic region. Where noted, students must consult with the program chair concerning registration for these courses.

Students are strongly encouraged to study in Scandinavia as part of their program.

Financial aid applies to PLU’s partnership program, “Contemporary Global Issues: The Norwegian Approach,” which takes place each fall semester at Hedmark University College in Norway. The same applies to both fall and spring semester study at Telemark University College, which is also part of PLU’s gateway program in Norway. Other study opportunities are available at a variety of institutions in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. Appropriate coursework completed abroad should be submitted to the Scandinavian Area Studies chair for approval toward the major.

Students interested specifically in Norwegian language and literature study are referred to the Norwegian major in the Department of Languages and Literatures, with which the Scandinavian Area Studies program maintains an especially close relationship.

MAJOR IN SCANDINAVIAN AREA STUDIES40 semester hours

Students must complete three semesters of a Nordic language beyond the 101 level. If they demonstrate intermediate proficiency in a Nordic language other than Norwegian, or advanced proficiency in Norwegian, they can use Scandinavian Area Studies elective courses for these 12 semester hours.

Sometimes applicable to this category; consult with program chair to determine applicability:

ECON 335: European Economic Integration (4)

HIST 325: European Reformations (4)

POLS 331: International Relations (4)

POLS 380: Politics of Global Development (4)

RELI 361: Church History Studies (4)

Literature, Film, Art, and Music8 semester hours, selected from:

MUSI 106: Music of Scandinavia (4)

SCAN 241: Scandinavian Folklore (4)

SCAN 341: Topics in Scandinavian Literature (4)

SCAN 422: Modernity and Its Discontents (4)

Sometimes applicable to this category; consult with program chair to determine applicability:

ENGL 334: Special Topics in Children’s Literature (4)

Capstone4 semester hours

SCAN 499: Capstone: Senior Project (4)

MINOR IN SCANDINAVIAN AREA STUDIES24 semester hours, including:

12 semester hours in Nordic Language

4 semester hours in Introduction to Scandinavian

8 semester hours electives

Language12 semester hours

Students must complete 3 semesters of a Nordic language. If they demonstrate intermediate proficiency in a language other than Norwegian, or advanced proficiency in Norwegian, they can substitute Scandinavian Area Studies elective courses for these 12 semester hours.

NORW 101, 102: Elementary Norwegian (4, 4)

NORW 201, 202: Intermediate Norwegian (4, 4)

NORW 301: Norwegian Conversation and Composition (4)

NORW 302: Advanced Norwegian Conversation and Composition (4)

Introduction to Scandinavian Area Studies4 semester hours

SCAN 150: Introduction to Scandinavia (4)

Electives8 semester hours

Any SCAN or other interdisciplinary course listed for the major or minor not used above. (In addition to all SCAN courses beyond SCAN 150, these include NORW courses beyond any used to fulfill the language requirement, MUSI 106 and POLS 384.) No more than 1 elective may be chosen from courses with a literature (LT) designation. Other courses may be applicable (see below) with approval of program director. These include:

ECON 335: European Economic Integration (4)

ENGL 334: Special Topics in Children’s Literature (4)

HIST 325: European Reformations (4)

POLS 331: International Relations (4)

POLS 380: Politics of Global Development (4)

RELI 361: Church History Studies (4)

No more than 8 semester hours may be used to meet both the Scandinavian Area Studies major or minor and either general education elements or requirements for a second major or minor.

Scandinavian Area Studies (SCAN) Undergraduate-Level Courses

SCAN 150: Scandinavian Cultures and Societies

Introduction to studying and understanding the cultures and societies of the Nordic region (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, Åland, the Faroe Islands, and Greenland. In addition to brief geographic and historical overviews, the course uses film, literature and art to investigate the contemporary societies from such perspectives as identity construction, the environment, international peace-building efforts, and the Sámi, and minority populations. Taught in English. (4)

SCAN 190: Inquiry Seminar - F

A four-credit seminar to introduce students to the methods and topics of study within a particular academic discipline or field. Students practice the academic skills that are at the center of the General Education Program. (4)

SCAN 227: The Vikings - SO

This course examines Old Norse culture and history during the Viking period (approximately 750-1100), focusing on Viking expansion and interactions with external European, Asian and American societies, conversion to Christianity and the emergence of medieval kingdoms, and on how our historical understanding of the Vikings is produced. Cross-listed with HIST 227. (4)

SCAN 241: Scandinavian Folklore - LT

Through reading of myths, folktales, ballads and legends, the course critiques the role of folk narrative as an expression of belief, identity and world view in traditional and contemporary Scandinavian societies. Examples of folk culture in music, art and film supplement the readings. Course conducted in English. (4)

SCAN 286: Sámi Culture in Global Indigenous Contexts - A or C

Through a variety of media students will be introduced to the Indigenous Sámi of northern Scandinavia and Russia, and will develop an understanding of Sámi culture, history, and worldviews, as well as of contemporary issues concerning the Sámi and other Indigenous peoples, including peoples in the United States. In English. (4)

SCAN 287: Special Topics in Scandinavian Studies

To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)

SCAN 288: Special Topics in Scandinavian Studies

To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)

SCAN 289: Special Topics in Scandinavian Studies

To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)

SCAN 291: Directed Study

To provide individual undergraduate students with introductory study not available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as DS: followed by the specific title designated by the student. (1 to 4)

SCAN 321: Topics in Scandinavian Culture and Society

This course concentrates on special topics such as Nordic colonialism, urban and rural space, the role of migrations in a changing society, and construction of national identity. Course taught in English, and may be repeated for credit for different topic areas. If topic is "Sámi Life and Culture", receives cross-cultural GenEd element. (4)

SCAN 322: Scandinavia and World Issues - SO

This course explores globalization, de-centering of power, the declining sovereignty of nation-states, and the interaction of economic, political, and cultural factors in the global production of social life. Key topics include migration, sustainability, and international conflict as they related to Scandinavian societies, institutions, and states. Cross-listed with POLS 322. (4)

SCAN 341: Topics in Scandinavian Literature - LT

Selected literary works provide an in-depth study on specific topics critical to our study of Scandinavian cultures and societies in the global community, including conflict and peace, immigrants' stories, and the outsider in Scandinavian literature and film. Course taught in English and open to non-majors. Course may be repeated for credit for different topic areas. When topic is "Scandinavian Migrant Literatures" receives Alternative Perspective (A) GenEd. (4)

SCAN 387: Special Topics in Scandinavian Studies

To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)

SCAN 388: Special Topics in Scandinavian Studies

To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)

SCAN 389: Special Topics in Scandinavian Studies

To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)

SCAN 422: Modernity and Its Discontents - LT

This course examines literary responses to modernity from the nineteeth century to today, including such movements as Romanticism, the Modern Breakthrough, Modernism and Postmodernism. Readings include drama, novels, short stories, poetry, and criticism. Course is conducted in English; readings are in translation for non-majors. (4)

SCAN 487: Special Topics in Scandinavian Studies

To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)

SCAN 488: Special Topics in Scandinavian Studies

To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)

SCAN 489: Special Topics in Scandinavian Studies

To provide undergraduate students with new, one-time, and developing courses not yet available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as ST: followed by the specific title designated by the academic unit. (1 to 4)

SCAN 491: Independent Study

To provide individual undergraduate students with advanced study not available in the regular curriculum. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as IS: followed by the specific title designated by the student. (1 to 4)

SCAN 495: Internships - SR

To permit undergraduate students to relate theory and practice in a work situation. The title will be listed on the student term-based record as Intern: followed by the specific title designated by the instructor in consultation with the student. (2 or 4)

SCAN 499: Capstone: Senior Project - SR

Research paper, internship or other approved project. Open only to Scandinavian Area Studies majors. (4)